The Mehndi Ceremony is a pre-wedding celebration where Mehndi (also known as Henna) is applied to the bride. It is said that the deeper the color of the stain, the happier the couple's marriage will be. In the bride's Mehndi, the Mehndi artist will hide the groom's name in the design for friends, family, and the groom to try to find as a fun game. Guests often have the option to receive their own mehndi design if they would like! Skin allergies are rare, due to the Mehndi paste being made from natural ingredients.

Before the Pithi Ceremony, a Ghar Shanti ceremony will be performed. This is a brief religious ceremony that is performed by the couple and their parents, where Lord Ganesh is invited into the home to remove all obstacles from the couple to bring them happiness and prosperity.

In the Pithi Ceremony (also called a Haldi Ceremony), a turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom before the wedding. The Pithi ceremony is done to help ward off the evil eye from the bride and groom. Turmeric also has a significance in our culture through it's healing properties through Ayurvedic Medicine (traditional Indian Medicine). The Turmeric paste (or Haldi) is used to exfoliate the skin, and to give the skin a natural glow. It can also help reduce any blemishes. The golden color from the tumeric is also culturally significant, as it is believed that the color signifies new beginnings and that it will help bring prosperity to the new couple.

A Sangeet is a celebratory event during an Indian wedding that is a musical night to celebrate not only the couple, but the bonding of both families. The word Sangeet comes from the Sanskrit language meaning "sung together".

During this ceremony, the groom and his family set out on a procession to the wedding venue, dancing and celebrating all the while. The groom can proceed to the wedding in many ways: on foot, by riding a horse or elephant, or by car.

After the groom's parade (baraat), he and his family will then be received by the bride's family as he arrives for the wedding ceremony. The bride's mother will perform welcome rituals (aarti), and give her blessings to him before he enters. She may also attempt to pull his nose in a fun-hearted game to remind him to be humble as he takes her daughter's hand in marriage. Finally the groom will break a clay pot with his foot to symbolize that he is ready to take on the journey of life, and then he is led to the mandap (religious altar for the wedding).

After the groom is sat down at the mandap, the first prayer is made (Ganesh Pooja). This prayer is to Lord Ganesh, as he is the remover of obstacles - and we want this wedding to go as smooth as possible!

After the prayer is done, an Antarpat - or cloth - is drawn between the bride and groom like a curtain, to prevent the couple from seeing each other's face.

Then the bride is walked down the aisle - and the father of the bride asks the groom to take care of his daughter and then entrusts her responsibility to the groom. This is called Kanyadaan in our culture.

After this the bride will seek blessings from the guests, and then she will sit on the other side of the Antarpat (curtain).

For the Gath Bhandan, the priest will tie a holy knot that joins the groom's shawl and the brides pallu (part of her scarf or veil) together to signify the unification of the two's souls. The priest will then join the couple's hands, and chant holy mantras (this is called Hasta Milap).

Then the priest will bang a thali (metal pan), the Antarpat (curtain) will drop, and the family will throw rice or flower petals on the couple, to signify that the two are married.

The Bride and the Groom will do a garland exchange - signifying their acceptance of each other as life partners.

During the Agni Pooja, a holy fire is lit as we call Lord Agni to witness the marriage. Lord Agni protect from evil forces and negative energy, but also helps provide peace of mind to the couple. The couple will offer various items to Lord Agni by feeding them into the fire, and they will recite prayers and vows to faithful and respectful to each other as a couple.

Next are the Mangal Pheras, where the couple will walk around the holy fire four times while chanting mantras ( or Oaths) to be with each other. Each round-about around the fire signifies one of the four pillars of a happy married life (1. Dharma - a disciplined way of leading life; 2. Artha - being prosperous; 3. Kama - having desire/ambition; 4. Moksha - faith in Karma). After each round, a brother of the bride will hand them puffed rice to continue to offer to the holy fire.

During the Saptapadi, the couple will now take seven steps, while also taking the seven vows of holy matrimony. The seven vows are: a promise to fulfill duties to each other/our children/the community, a promise to improve each other spiritually and mentally, a promise to be prosperous for one another, a promise to become wiser and happier through loving each other, a promise and blessing to ensure any future children we may have are moral and healthy, to bless each other with long lives, and to promise to remain true to our vows and faithful to each other through our lifelong companionship and friendship.

The groom will then adorn his bride with vermillion (Sindoor), a brilliant red powder which symbolizes her as a married woman.

He will then tie a holy Mangalsutra around her neck. Mangalsutra translates to "auspicious thread" and it is worn by the bride/wife for the remainder of her marriage, so as to bring well-being for herself and her husband, as well as to protect them both from evil spirits.

After this the bride and groom will exchange wedding bands - a western tradition that has been brought into many Indian wedding ceremonies.

For the Kansar, the bride and groom will offer sweets to each other, signifying their first meal together as a married couple, and demonstrating that they will continue to share all things in life from here onward.

For the Ashirwad, the bride and groom are officially announced as husband and wife, the priest will ask the guests to bless the couple with good wishes and prosperity. The couple will then go and seek blessings from their family as the wedding ceremony comes to a close.

Finally, the end of the wedding occurs as the bride bids farewell to her home in an emotional Vidaai ceremony, where she will throw rice behind her toward the house she is leaving, as a representation of paying respects to the family who raised her and blessed her throughout.

What happens after the wedding?

After the wedding as the couple returns to their home, the mother of the groom will then perform a Ghar nu Laxmi ceremony, in which the groom's family warmly welcomes the bride into their home. A prayer (aarti) will be performed and then the bride will enter the home by pushing a rice filled pot at the doorstep with her right foot. This custom is considered to be auspicious and bring good luck to the bride and her new family.

Food, Drink, Dancing, and Fun!

You know the drill!!